Seahorses
This international painting’s journey started, when my friend from Norway contacted me, asking for a painting for her son. I put the effort into researching specific species that live in the Great Barrier Reef, including Spiny Seahorses, Spine Cheek Clown Fish, White Tip Reef Shark, and the Bottle Nose Dolphin.
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In the painting, the White Tip Shark is swimming amongst the coral because they tend to swim close to the bottom of the ocean floor… the Spine Cheek Clown Fish are two different colours and sizes, because the female are a bright red/orange, and double the size of the maroon males. As in the Great Barrier Reef, the Spiny Seahorses in this painting are covered in tiny thorns.
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I lit a candle, and sent a prayer... as my heart was filled with appreciation and wonder for these diverse marine species. Unfortunately, the Great Barrier Reef is in danger... half of its coral has been lost within the last 30 years. As corals die off, the species who depend on the coral are impacted as well. White Tip Reef Sharks are nearly considered extinct because of bycatch and demand for their fins. Spiny Seahorse populations have decreased by 30 percent within the past 10 to 15 years, because they are over harvested for Traditional Chinese Medicine.
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Sending so much love to the Spiny Seahorses, Spine Cheek Clown Fish, White Tip Reef Shark and Bottle Nose Dolphins, who live oh so far away.